Chino hosts budget workshop, shows increasing revenue

CHINO - Chino Police Department will increase its overtime budget by $100,000 to help fight an increase in crime tied to prison realignment.

The announcement was made at the city's budget workshop on Wednesday at City Hall.

"So far this year the city has seen a 12 percent increase in property crime and 5 percent increase in violent crime," said Police Chief Miles Pruitt.

The Police Department's 2013-14 budget represents a 3.6 percent decrease in its budget from the previous fiscal year.

Overall according to the city's proposed budget conclusion the 2013-14 budget contains increasing revenues resulting from an improving local economy as well as expenditure reductions through staffing changes and tight fiscal controls.

The city's General Fund budget presents an operating gain of $1.2 million with use of $1.5 million from reserves for the city's street rehabilitation project.

By the end of the fiscal year - June 30, 2014 - the city's reserve balance will be $28.2 million.

"The budget includes a 5 percent sales increase or $800,000 to the general fund," said City Manager Matthew Ballantyne.

Each city department head went over their budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The departments: administration, finance, police, human resources, community development, public works, community service and redevelopment.

Despite redevelopment agencies being abolished, the city will continuing paying the debt for at least 30 years.

The workshop provided direction to staff on any modifications to the proposed budget in anticipation of a June 18 budget adoption.

Read some of Canan Tasci's Tweets from the budget workshop meeting at @ChinoValleyNow